Nissan to Introduce Electric Vehicle in US and Japan in 2010; New Business Plan Focuses on Zero-Emission Vehicle Leadership
13 May 2008
Nissan will introduce an all-electric vehicle in the US and Japan in 2010 and then mass-market vehicles to consumers globally in 2012, according to President and CEO Carlos Ghosn. (Earlier post.) The accelerated introduction of EVs reflects Nissan’s goal of establishing leadership in zero-emission vehicles as part of its new five-year business plan called “Nissan GT 2012” (“G” for growth and “T” for trust), covering the period from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2013.
In addition to establishing zero-emission vehicle leadership, the other main commitments of the GT 2012 plan are to establish quality leadership and to deliver 5% revenue growth on average over five years (FY2008 to FY2012). Nissan will support the revenue growth target by a product plan that will launch 60 all-new models in the next five years and more than 15 new technologies every year from 2009.
Nissan GT 2012 reflects the determination of our company to play a major role in the development of a sustainable mobile society. There’s a balance to be sought between the potential growth in world markets and the demand for a cleaner planet. We are convinced that the mass availability of affordable zero-emission vehicles is the most significant breakthrough our industry could deliver, and, together with Renault, Nissan intends to be the breakthrough leader.
The Renault-Nissan alliance is also working with Project Better Place on the mass deployment of electric vehicles to select country markets, such as Israel. (Earlier post.)
In 2007, Nissan, NEC and NEC TOKIN Corporation established a joint venture—Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC)—to develop and market lithium-ion batteries for wide-scale automotive applications including hybrids, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and electric vehicles. (Earlier post.)
AESC is developing laminate-type lithium-ion cells with a manganese spinel cathode material (LiMn2O4). Current cells have energy densities of up to 89 Wh/kg and 171 Wh/L. For the next generation of cell, AESC is working with Nickel-mixed Mn spinel cathode material, along with the graphite carbon anode.
Ghosn said that Nissan’s global sales forecast for fiscal 2008 is 3.9 million units. In fiscal 2007, Nissan sold a record 3,770,000 vehicles worldwide, an increase of 8.2%. The main contributions to volume growth in 2008 will come primarily from GOM and Russia. Nissan will launch nine all-new products during fiscal 2008: Teana, Infiniti FX, Maxima, Bakkie successor, Qashqai+2, a mini SUV, Cube, Z and Infiniti G37 Convertible.
The BEV will arrive.
If every Renault & Nissan dealership offers public charging stations, then the infrastructure is in place.
Expect these cars to sell as fast as they can be produced.
Posted by: John Taylor | 13 May 2008 at 06:31 AM
John Taylor:
Two leading countries (Israel and Denmark) will have BEVs charging and battery swaping stations all over the place within 2 - 3 years.
Both countries expect to supply their BEV charging stations mostly with clean Wind or Solar power.
Others will follow.
Posted by: Harvey D | 13 May 2008 at 08:05 AM
This is great news, a big maker has publically made a commitment to this...just adds more pressure on everyone else not to loose out by sitting on the sidelines (like the US makers did for the hybrids). I can't wait to see what Nissan delivers here in the US.
Posted by: Sasparilla | 13 May 2008 at 10:35 AM
This news "snippet" only tells half the story from what I have read elsewhere.
2010 will be EV rollout to commercial FLEET users only (primarily targeting Utilities and urban based fleet users).
2012 is when they expect to sell to customers in general, and they are primarily targeting customers in major urban locations so I bet a Nissan dealership in podunk, MO will not have any at all while the Nissan dealer in New York city has a huge allotment.
Posted by: Patrick | 13 May 2008 at 11:03 AM
Patrick's right. Podunk MO doesn't have one Nissan dealer - but the rest of MO has at least ten!
The AESC battery partnership is yet another feather in the EV cap. And its nice to see infrastructure being addressed early on.
Posted by: sulleny | 13 May 2008 at 11:21 AM
Hey Patrick - Why must you insult my home town of Podunk, MO ?
I'll have you know that not only do we have a Nissan dealership, but we have a Starbucks too !!!
Over paying for coffee make me feel important ....
Yeeee Haaaah !!!!
Posted by: Monkey Man | 13 May 2008 at 12:27 PM
they will sell incredibly well i'm sure if they can make them for a half decent price. can't wait to see how this goes
Posted by: Brad Godfrey | 13 May 2008 at 07:44 PM
I hope Nissan doesn't kick the can down the road like so many other auto manufactures have done. I'm not getting any younger, and I would like to see a viable EV in production for my funeral. Hmm, guess I wouldn't actually "see it", but you know what I mean.
Posted by: shigley | 14 May 2008 at 06:53 AM
Shouting like failed presidential candidate make me smarter than you!!
Posted by: sulleny | 14 May 2008 at 10:42 PM
No doubt about it, the future of road transport is electric, and we are on our way there.
The pieces are coming together like in a jigsaw puzzle.
There are now more than 25 million electric bicycles in the world, and over 10,000 electric scooters. There are those goofy looking NEVs in the USA, 37,000 of which have apparently been bought(!). There are high-end electric sports cars on their way from the likes of Tesla, Lightning, and Fisker. Plus electric dragsters outperforming allcomers. There are electric buses. Roadgoing electric delivery trucks in sizes from 2ton to 12ton from smithelectricvehicles.com and modec.co.uk are already in service in their hundreds with parcel firms and supermarket chains.
These form the corners and the edges of the jigsaw puzzle - and we are starting to see how the main middle ground of that picture might look, with carmakers Nissan, Renault, Subaru, Mitsubishi, BMW, VW-Audi and others all shaping up to bring affordable massmarket cars to the showrooms in the next 2-7 years.
Hundreds of millions of dollars and massive amounts of effort are now being poured into developing better batteries. The race is on.
I expect half the population to be driving electric cars within 5 years or so - including some of those headshakers who currently can't see it happening.
It's happening.
Posted by: Stan Wellaway | 18 May 2008 at 01:54 AM